Automatic starting switch



March 2, 1948.

L. W. GELBEQT AUTOMATI C STARTING SWITCH Filed Oct. 15, 1931 J I l y 6/ 10 a? f? f 69 L 11 A 7'0 l/Qrqki fllfl/V/FOLD 5 60 a? r 49 4/7 7'0 INTAKE 7'0 lG/V/T/ON CIRCUIT Inventor A Hot nay Patented Mar. 2, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC STARTING SWITCH Lewis W. Gilbert, Seneca Falls, N. Y. Application October 13, 1931, Serial No. 568,572

(or. 123-179) I 18 Claims. 1

The object of this invention is to provide means for completing a circuit through the self starting motor of an internal combustion engine on the turning of the ignition key, and breaking the circuit after the motor starts.

A further object is to provide for automatically closing this circuit again when the engine stalls.

A further object is to provide an automatic switch connected to the suction of the manifold, which switch is a circuit closing device, which acts to complete the circuit through the magnetic switch or relay and a magnetic switch in combination, the automatic switch being on the self starter when starting the engine, thereby eliminating the floor switch that heretofore has been operated by the foot. This automatic switch automatically opens this circuit through the magnetic switch and through the motor circuit when the engine is running, the movement to open position being due to the suction in the intake manifold, the switch being held in open position by that suction.

Another object is to warn the driver of the danger of unduly taxing the battery if he leaves the ignition switch closed when the car is at rest, suiiicient noise being made thereby in cranking the engine to attract the drivers attention.

Another object of the invention is to prevent the closing of the switch of the self starter when the throttle valve is open.

These and other objects of my invention will be illustrated in the drawings, described in the specification and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit with which my invention is used.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the carburetor and intake manifold, partly broken away, with of the butterfly valve of the carburetor and the collar mounted on said arm.

In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate like parts.

The invention herein described is an improvedown and close the port It.

2 ment on that shown in my prior Patent 1,635,078, issued July 5, 1927, to which reference is made.

In the drawings, reference numeral I indicates an elongated cylinder having a piston 2 mounted to slide therein. In the lower part of the cylinder is a helical spring 4 which normally holds the piston in raised position, that is, in a position where it makes contact with the insulated screw 5 holding together the tungsten points 6 and I, through which a circuit is formed. The piston has a rod 3 connected thereto which moves up and down or to and fro with it.

This rod makes a loose connection with the throttle valve by which the closing of the contacts 6 and I is prevented while the throttle valve is open, as will presently be described.

The screw 5 is inclosed in an insulating sleeve 8, which sleeve is inclosed between insulating washers 9 and III. The screw 5 is provided with a flange II on the bottom thereof, by which its upward movement is limited. The screw 5 passes through a screw plug I2, which is threaded in the upper end of the cylinder I, and by which the assembly is held in place therein, and in whichit can be adjusted up and down. A nut I3 is provided on the screw 5, by which it is clamped in place.

In the side of the cylinder is provided a port opening I5 which is half closed by the lower end of the piston when the piston is in its normally raised position, The piston 2 can be accurately stopped with reference to this port opening by turning the screw plug I2 up or down. The object of this port opening is to permit air lo pass therethrough and down through the cylinder into the manifold without moving the piston when the engine is at rest and when the engine is being turned over at cranking speed. A port I6 is provided above the piston to permit air to enter and leave the cylinder as the piston moves down or up.

As soon as the engine is turning on its own power, or above cranking speed, the suction in the manifold is suflicient to draw the piston 2 This breaks the circuit through the contacts 6 and I, it being understood that the contact I is grounded on the piston 2 and the piston 2 is grounded on the cylinder I, which in turn is grounded on the manifold and the frame of the car. It will also be understood that the contact 6 is directly connected to the screw 5, which is in circuit with the magnetic coil or relay 20, which energizes an iron core 2i and attracts the resilient armature 22. This armature carries a contact 23 and moves the contact into contact with the contact 24, which is in series with the starting motor 25. The circuit of the magnetic coil or relay 2% is controlled by the ignition switch 28, which is turned by the key which locks and unlocks the car. The current flows from the battery 35, through the lead 3|, and armature 22, etc. as above described, to the starting motor 25, which cranks the engine. The current also flows from the battery 30 through the lead 33 and the ignition switch 28 through the magnetic coil 29, screw 5, and contacts 6 and 1'.

On'the bottom of the cylinder I, is an elbow 36, one end of which is threaded into or con- I 1 nected to the intake manifold of the engine, and the other end of which is threaded into the lower end of the cylinder I. cylinder l is choked, as indicated at 31, to form a base on which the spring 4 can rest, and to restrict the opening that connects the cylinder I with the elbow 35 and manifold 39. It will be understood that the opening 38 and the opening l5 should be approximately of the same size, and that both openings should be small, as the small openings make the movement of the piston less sensitive at cranking speed and makes it easy to adj st the normal position of the piston with reference to the opening l5.

The rod or stem 3 is ordinarily made of wire and carries on its lower end a fixed collar or stop 40, which is fastened thereon by the set screw ill. This collar moves up and down with the rod 3 and piston 2. The rod or wire 3 is somewhat flexible and is rigidly fastened to the piston 2,51; that it moves with it. n In the carburetoris provided the usual butterfly valve 45, mountedto turn with a shaft 46 which passes' throu gh the carburetor. On one end of this shaft is keyed an arm 46a, shown in dotted lines. To the arm 46a is connected one end of the rod 461 The other end carries the accelerator pedal, not shown, by which the valve is operated. This is the ordinary construction of the carburetor and accelerator rod.

On the other end of the shaft 46 is keyed an arm 41. Both of these arms are outside of the carburetor. On the arm]?! is provided a pin 48, having a head or sleeve 49 swiveled thereon.

The lower end of the? v construction is to place the intake manifold and carburetor on one side of the engine and the battery and the starting motor on the other side. If only one circuit is provided, the solenoid or magnetic switch would be unnecessary and the heavy starting current would have to pass through the contacts 6 and I on one side of the engine and through the starting motor and battery on the other side of the engine. This would give an exceedingly long circuit with considerable resistance through which the heavy current would have to pass.

The solenoid switch is used to close the short circuit through which the heavy current passes,

and must be placed close to the battery and starting motor. 'It can be operated from the vacuum control switch. 3 and I on the other side of the ries a heavy current 'ofseveral hundred amperes. The circuit 20 magnetizes the core 2|, which in turn draws up the armature 22 and closes the contacts 23 and 24, which are part of the low resistance circuit and carries the heavy current to the starting motor. It is desirable that the vacuum switch shown in Figure 3 be placed directly in connection with the'intake manifold 39, so that the vacuum in the intake manifold has the best effect in drawing down the piston 2 and overcoming the force of the spring 4. The

J rod 3 must also be connected to the accelerator rod so that the spring 4 can not close the contacts 6 and l as long as the accelerator pedal is This sleeve has ahole 50 therein through which 4 the rod 3 can n16ve f ree ly with a sliding motion; The sleeve 49 can slide on this rod when the rod is stationary. v

The fixed collar 40 will normally be spaced from thesliding s eeve as a short distance, so that the butterfly valve in the carburetor can be moved a short distance by either the accelerator rod and pedal or by hand to open the intake to give it sufiicient gas 'for all practical starting fpurposes, without moving the piston 2 from its normal position and without opening the con tacts 6 and 1 instarting circuit. Before starting,

"the contacts Band! are normally held together by the spring 4 in the position shown in Figure 3 and'the valve is in the position shown in Figure 2.

Two circuits 20 and 3l are pro'vided, for reasons that will now be explained. These circuits draw from the same battery with the same voltage. To crank the motor several hundred amperes must be drawn from the battery. Because such a heavy current is needed, the battery and the starting {mo or must be placed close together and connected with heavy conductors, which -shou1a be as short as possible to reduce the electheaiis'i'stance. The general practice-in car depressed.

The contacts 6 and I are normally closed as shown in Figure 3 and will be held closed by the spring 4 while the engine is being cranked, for until the engine operates on its own power the vacuum of theintake manifold caused by cranking the enginewill be only a few inches of mercury, which is not sufficient to overcome the force of the spring '4. As soon as the engine fires this vacuum increases to 12 inches or more, which overcomes the force of the spring and pulls down the piston 2.

- core ilfpullin'g the contact 23 away fromthe contact 24-, 'cuttingout the starting motor and allowing the engine to run independently there- 'of "on its own power.

When the vacuum in the intake manifold pulls down the piston 2, the pistonin turn pushes down on the rod 3 and moves the collar down away from the sleeve 49, and the rod and piston remain in this position while the engine is running. If the driver'th'en steps on the accelerator or moves the hand throttle, he moves the accelerator rod 461), which in turn swings the crank 46a and moves the butterfi y valve '45 in the carburetor, which valve is carried on the shaft 46.

The. arm 41 car'rie'sthesle'eve '49, which swings contacts 6 and '1, unless the rod 3 and collar 48 is otherwise held down by the sleeve 49 and the accelerator rod 46b. As soon as the driver takes his foot oil the accelerator pedal the parts resume their positions shown in Figures 2 and 3, so that the throttle valve 45 is closed or nearly closed and the contacts 6 and] are closed. This causes the contacts 23 and 24 to close at once and starts the cranking of the engine over again, as explained above.

A small space is left between the fixed collar 40 and the sliding sleeve 49 when the throttle 45 is closed, so that the throttle 45 can be opened far enough to permit the engine to be started by th starting motor and without moving the collar 48, which will remain stationary while the ignition switch is closed and before the contact 1 is pulled away from the contact 6 by the vacuum caused by the engine working on its own power. When the contact 1 moves down,-the rod 3 and the fixed collar 40 will move down with it. The starting of the engine on its own power will create the vacuum that will move the contact 1 down and will hold it down as long as the strength of the vacuum exceeds the strength or pressure of the spring 4. When the contact 1 moves down, this will open the circuit and make the starting motor idle if it has been active previously in cranking the engine. When the accelerator is depressed far enough, it will of itself cause the contact I to be moved away from the contact 6 because the sleeve 49 will bear against the fixed collar 40 and draw the collar 4%), rod 3, piston 2, contact I down with it and compress. the spring 4 as long as the accelerator is depressed. While the parts are in this position the circuit will be open and the starter will be idle. As soon as the contacts 6 and 1 close again, the cranking of the engine by the electric starter will begin. After the engine has started on its own power, it creates a. vacuum in th intake manifold, and this vacuum pulls down the piston 2, and pulls the contact I away from the contact, cutting off the self starter. Then the driver can step on the accelerator pedal, and open the throttle valve 45 wide without disturbing the starting motor, which will be idle. Until the engine starts on its own power, the throttle valve should be kept nearly closed, so as to produce a high vacuum. Any appreciable use of the accelerator after the engine fires will reduce the vacuum in the intake manifold so that the spring can move the contact 1 up to the contact 6, but as long as the accelerator is depressed, the sleeve 49 will hold down the fixed collar 40 mechanically and keep the contacts apart, preventing the unnecessary operation of the starting motor.

It will also be understood that if the car is climbing a hill and the throttle valve 45 is opened wide, the vacuum in the intake manifold will drop and in the absence of the collar 46 and sleeve 4% restrained by the accelerator rod, the piston 2 would be moved up by the spring 4, closing the contacts 6 and 'l, which is not desirable because it would start the self-starter while the engine is running. To prevent this, the arm 41 which is down when the throttle is open pushes the sleeve 49 down against the fixed collar 40 and holds it down, and thereby holds the pistonZ down and compresses the spring and thus holds the contact 1 away from the contact 6,

If the throttle is suddenly opened to racing position when the engine is running idle, the vacuum in the intake manifold will also drop suddenly, permitting the piston 2 to close the contacts 6 and 1 except for the restraint provided in the arm 41 and collar 40 and sleeve 49, as above explained.

The operation of this invention may be pointed out as follows: In the standard automobiles as made before the filing of this application (and without this invention) there are four foot pedals.-

These pedals control the brake, the clutch, the accelerator, and the starter. The operator has but two feet with which to operate them. If the engine stalls while the car is going uphill, the driver must keep one foot on the brake pedal to keep the car from going back downhill while he keeps the other foot on the starter pedal trying to start the engine. With the two feet thus engaged he cannot operate either the clutch or the accelerator, and yet the clutch must be released in order to crank the engine. This device, with is electrical connections and vacuum contr0l,. automatically throws in the switch to start the: starter as soon as the vacuum in the intake manifold drops, and as soon as the driver takesv his foot from the accelerator pedal, permitting the operator to use both feet for the brake and clutch pedals, it being understood that the start-- ing pedal can be omitted. The mechanical con-- nection between the switch and the acceleratorpedal prevents the device from starting the: starter as long as the accelerator pedal is depressed beyond a certain point. This device will cause the starter to automatically spring into action when the engine stops, as soon as the driver releases the accelerator pedal, and will. prevent the starter from operating when the accelerator pedal is pushed down; that is to say, when the engine stops and the vacuum drops the driver can start the engine again by simpl releasing the accelerator pedal, upon which the spring will close the contacts 6 and I, and the driver will prevent the starter from operating as long as he keeps his foot on the accelerator pedal because this compresses the spring 4 and holds the points 6 and 1 apart. The engine will keep the starter from operating as long as it produces a vacuum in the intake manifold that is stronger than the spring.

It will also be understood that while I have described the movement of the piston 2 as being up or down, this is merely relative, as the cylinder I can be placed in any position other than vertical, and the piston will work with the same efiect as when the cylinder is placed in vertica position.

I claim:

1. In an electric starter system for an internal combustion engine, pressure and vacuum responsive switch means, means connected to the pressure and vacuum responsive switch means to provide unbalanced pressure therein whereby said switch may be opened, and means connected to the vacuum and pressure responsivedevice to open said switch mechanically by the accelerator rod independent of said unbalanced pressure.

2. A vacuum controlled starter switch for internal combustion engines comprising a switch, a cylinder having a fixed contact and a piston therein carrying a contact thereon, said piston being moved in one direction by the vacuum of connected to the accelerator rod by which th ,pistOIl and switch are held open while the celerator rod holds the valve open, Said Wil? the intak ma iiold to openteeswitea a Pi fo moving said p ston t oth r n t close the w ch. a wireconne ted to. sm st a al e in t ca bu eto a ac elerat ne'e ning vand closin h valve $41 We be ng c nn ct to he ac ele et ted by which the P n n S it h a hel op n Wh l the estcelerator rod holds thevalve open.

3. A vacuum controlled starter switch for in,- rn l comb s ion eng ne vminimis ng a. swit a cylinder havin afia d c nt ct and s n h n a ry e a contact there-e sa d Pis on being moved inone direction by the vacnum of .the intake manifold to open the switch, a spring .for moving said v piston in the other direction to close he witcna W re conne ted ose d i ton a valve in the carbureton'an accelerator rod for opening and closing the alv sai Wi bein e having a loose connection with.said accelerator rod which permits the valve to be partially opened without oving the piston, to open the switch.

:4. .A vacuum controlled sta ter swi ch for nternal combustion engines, compr sing the combination of a cylinder, van electrical contactfixed in one end thereof, a piston n sa d c l nder e r- .iying a contact thereon, said piston being moved manifold away from said co ta t to open th switch, a spring formoving said piston in the :other direction to close the syvit ch, a wire connested to said piston and extending outside of -.=the cylinder, an accelerator rod, .a valve in the carburetor moved thereby, connections between said accelerator rod and said Wire by rwhich-gthe piston and switch are ,held open wnileth ac e r :erator rod holdsthe valveopen.

5. A vacuum controlled starter switch for in- "ternal combustion engines, comprising a cylinder with an electrical contact fixed i 14 fi thereof and,insulatedthereirom, ,a piston niQ ing in said cylinder making contact Wilihl3h6 :fixed contact mounted in ttheicylinde-iysaidpis- :ton being :moved :in one direction by the .yacunrn .of the intake manifold ;.to separate ;,the QQI tacts, ,a spring in said cylinder ;for moving said piston in the .other direction :to a close tthecontacts,

Ya avire connected .to :said piston and extending outside of the cylinder, an accelerator prod, a

= valve in :the carburetor moved thereby, connecitionsbetween said acceleratorirodeandfiaid wire by which the pistonflandiswitchiare held open :whilethe acceleratorlrod holds thevalve open.

"6. A .vacuum controlled starter switch storin- .=ternal combustion v engines, l comprising ;a switch,

a cylinder connected with the intake manifold-of at one end thereof :and insulated therefrom, a

"piston. therein carr-ying'a contact thereonasaid -piston being moved in one direction" by the vacmum of the intake manifold to openthe switch, a" spring -formoving said pistonin the I other direction to close-the switch, awire connectedto said pistonand movingtherewith, a collar fastened on saidwire, a sleeve sliding on saidwire, an accelerator rod, connections between said sleeve and said accelerator rodby which=the ,sleeve is. moved down against. the collar on the sinitial, movement ofv the rod Without opening the switch and by which thesleeve collar, wire, and .p tonar ved down. tcee her o tin i rthier in one direction by the vacuum .of the intake c nant si es seeder-i=9 ed is ee e it? 7. is. vacuum controlled starter switch for internal combustion nglnsfcomprising' a switch, a cylinder connectingwith the "intake manifold o the en in ai i ind i' h v g fixed ntacta't one end thereof and insulated therefrom, alpiston therein "carryinga contact thereon, said piston beingiiiioved in one direction by the vacu t 'Q h nt k me pld t pe the w tch va spring "for 'movinethep ton in the otherjdi recti'on' to close the switch, a circuit inw'hich 3.1.1 switch is 'l c te'eaa Q fin i a i ic i eo n' cu lo e by said" ole o d motor in said second circuit for crank ng'tlie engine, saidmotor operating onlyTyvhenboth cirfc'u'it are closed, an accelerator pedal and means onne t the ace leie er P a w h e hi ton and switch for h'olding the'svvitch'oneh when the accelerator pedal is depresseitherby' preil fii n the e r d? he ne h mi he engine.

8. In an automobile, the combination of an engine, fuel intake 2. throttle therein capable of being positioned to fnrnish an i n iu l supply, and an accelerator pedal in control of the throttle, a cranking inot'or; contr l circuit and "switch therein, 'n'1 e ans to hold it closed after h t ro t has een pa i l l i by h p da and, a p ston sie ed by t e va uum creat- Jed bythe operation of the engine for de energizi s aid c cu t in m a 'sl q e o l operatio of th e s n and one of jh t r of the aid pedalto throttle closing position, whe eb h i a e f e Sup y u o ically continued after the termination of the cra'nlging'of the engine, a connection between t j eid a elera e eda for fii c ai pressnre-responsive means to holdthe'circuit openin a d placin mean i circu o in ondi ion sai we rd mean ena m in n w th th mov en 9 h Cirs fl ec n a cla iieineen the engine said cylinder having a fixedcontact starter switch for internal combustion en ine om isin a i i epen eetan e j Imeens scene ee onsi r e n move in i ,fliteet qn b the va u of th n ak 'ma b to o en th ci cu p n elecd o ing m nsvsh i e-f me in saidprc s re esponsiveness in the other direction to close 'the circuit opening and closing means, an accelerator pedal "and means connecting the accelerator pedal with the circuit opening and closing means for holding the cpeningand'closing meansopenwhen the accelerator pedal is pressed down said connecting ;means operating in line with the a movement ;the circuit. openingland closing means.

ll. A starter .switch for internal combustion engines comprising a circuit opening and closing nsans Press respq iv mean motd one di .=ii9 ;.-bY-..th ,-Y%. l llm o t int k ma ii t month r i ca in eeddslee e imeen us o emu-v n sa pre s r me nori rnea ingthe otherldifectionLto close the circuit se -e s? can. aseeles te eeede enemas and means connecting the accelerator pedal with the circuit opening and closing means for pulling the circuit opening and closing means open and holding it open when the accelerator pedal is pressed down.

12. In an electric starter system for an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a throttle, and an accelerator rod, a switch having a movable member and a fixed member, the movable member being normally held in contact with the fixed member and being moved out of contact by a vacuum, means connected to the intake manifold to operate said movable member by a vacuum, and means connected to the engine throttle and accelerator rod to move said movable member mechanically out of contact independent of its operation by a vacuum.

13. A starter switch for an internal combustion engine comprising a circuit opening and closing means having a fixed contact and a moving contact, a spring for normally holding the moving contact in the same plane with the fixed contact, a pressure responsive means connected with the circuit opening and closing means, an accelerator pedal and means connecting the moving contact directly with the accelerator pedal by which the accelerator pedal can move directly the moving contact of the circuit opening and closing means.

14. A starter switch for an internal combustion engine comprising a circuit opening and closing means having a fixed contact and a moving contact, a spring for normally holding the moving contact in the same plane with the fixed contact, a pressure responsive means connected with the circuit opening and closing means, an accelerator pedal and means connecting the moving contact directly with the accelerator pedal by which the accelerator pedal can move directly the moving contact of the circuit opening and closing means, to open the circuit and hold the circuit opening and closing means in circuit opening condition.

15. A starter switch for an internal combustion engine comprising a circuit opening and closing means having a fixed contact and a moving contact, a spring for normally holding the moving contact in the same plane with the fixed contact, a pressure responsive means connected with the circuit opening and closing means, an accelerator pedal and means connecting the moving contact directly with the accelerator pedal by which the accelerator pedal can move directly the moving contact of the circuit opening and closing means and hold the moving contact of the circuit opening and closing means in circuit opening condition.

16. A starter switch for an internal combustion engine comprising a circuit opening and closing means having a fixed contact and a moving contact, a spring for normally holding the ,moving contact in the same plane with the fixed contact, a pressure responsive means connected with the circuit opening and closing means, that varies the pressure between the contacts, an accelerator pedal and means connected to the accelerator pedal for directly opening the circuit opening and closing means by and with the pedal by which the accelerator pedal can directly move the circuit opening and closing means.

17. A starter switch for an internal combustion engine comprising a circuit opening and closing means having contacts, pressure responsive means connected with the circuit opening and closing means said pressure responsive means being adapted to vary the pressure between the contacts, an accelerator pedal and means connected with the accelerator pedal by which the accelerator pedal can move the circuit opening and closing means to open the circuit and hold the circuit opening and closing means in circuit opening condition.

18. A starter switch for internal combustion engine comprising a circuit opening and closing means, pressure responsive means connected with the circuit opening and closing means by which the movement of the circuit opening and closing means is controlled, an accelerator pedal and means connecting the accelerator pedal directly with the circuit opening and closing means by which the circuit opening and closing means is moved by and with the pedal and through which the accelerator pedal can hold the circuit opening and closing means in circuit opening condition.

LEWIS W. GILBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STA'IES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,736,132 Rippingille Nov, 19, 1929 1,845,528 Stewart Feb. 16, 1932 1,202,577 Peschman Oct. 27, 1916 1,507,193 May et al. Sept. 2, 1924 1,c15,e15 Mansur July 21, 1931 1,635,078 Gilbert July 5, 1927 1,791,614 Banner Feb. 10, 1931 1,862,006 Collins June 7, 1932 1,902,646 Knapp Mar. 21, 1933 1,761,539 Schwarze June 3, 1930 1,739,069 Hasselbring, Jr. Dec, 10, 1929 1,719,049 Forsberg July 2, 1929 2,311,105 Saxe June 8, 1943 

